FOOTBALL: Hockaday is a surprise choice for Leeds

FOREST Green chairman Dale Vince insists David Hockaday deserves his chance after being controversially installed as the new head coach at Leeds.

Gloucestershire-based Hockaday, 56,who implemented the first football academy in the country at Cirencester College, was Leeds president Massimo Cellino's surprise choice to succeed a beleaguered Brian McDermott and the appointment has angered the majority of the club's fans who demanded a bigger name to take on the new role.

Hockaday said he was excited and looking forward to starting work and dismissed suggestions his appointment was unexpected.

"It isn't a surprise because of my background and the fact I'm a very experienced coach and obviously with 20 years a player, and the fact that the president wants a very experienced British coach, then I seemed to tick all the boxes," he told the club website.

"At the end of the day I've been given a great opportunity and I intend to take it with both hands."

But Vince, who worked closely with former Watford and Southampton coach Hockaday during his time in charge at Forest Green - which was his only managerial job - said he has all the right attributes to prove his critics wrong.